Bird Banding Permits

Because banding birds requires capturing the birds and handling them before
the banding takes place, the banding of birds in the United States is
also controlled under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and requires a federal
banding permit. Some states require a state permit as well. Only official
federal bands may be legally placed on birds that are released to the
wild within the United States. Bird banding permits, supplies of bird
bands, and bird banding data are administered by the Bird Banding Laboratory.